Rescue 'tiel not adjusting well

[Lizshaw86]

Hello,

I have had Patches, a 15 year old rescue Cockatiel, for about 4 days. I have tried putting toys in his cage but he is scared of them . I believe he has never had toys before. I try to play with him and teach him to play but he does not like any toys. He only seems happy when he is sitting on my shoulder. If he is in his cage he clings to one of the little doors wanting to get out. He will not use the large front door of his cage because he acts like he can't get to it. I have had to remove all toys and additional perches because he will not use anything but the three perches that have been in his cage for the past 15 years. I am also trying to switch him to a better diet but he has only nibbled a little and mostly picked out the seeds from his chop mix of veggies/fruit. Any advice and how to get him to like his cage, try new things, and use his big cage door? Here are some pictures:

Sorry it is sideways but that is his cage and he only will sit in that left corner. There when I go to bed, there when I wake up, there when I get home from work, and there on the security camera I have on him during the day.

Only place he seems satisfied.
Any advice? I think his previous owner never really taught him how to play and be a bird. :17:

 

[Owlet]

4 days is REALLY soon. I'd give it a month at least for him to start settling down, maybe longer since he's an older bird.
Also I would invest in some non-wooden dowel perches

 

[itzjbean]

As stated above, 4 days is hardly any time at all -- some larger species like rescue macaws don't warm up for months or even years! So slow down, don't expect much from him in the first month, and work slowly and at his pace.

I find that the best way to help a bird adjust is stick to a schedule -- uncover their cage in the morning at around the same time, get him breakfast, let him out of his cage to play and then develop a bedtime routine so he knows what to expect.

As he gets more comfortable with you and his surroundings (give him at least another couple weeks before you try anything new) then when he begins to become more comfortable and exploring his cage, singing/chirping and seems happy, then you can start working with him on training, helping him play with toys and basically showing him how to be a bird.

Also if you haven't taken him to get a checkup with a Certified Avian Vet, it is always recommended to do so with any new bird. I also agree with above, some more variety of perches would maybe be better! For instance, I have a natural wood perch, 2 nail trimming perches, 4-5 rope perches, a swing and a ladder in my tiels cage.

 

[Lizshaw86]

I had two other perches in there that would help his toenails and were different sizes but he was scared of them. You think just put them back in there and leave them and maybe eventually he will
try them out over time?

 

[Karlys]

If it were me, I'd definitely put everything back and wait a month or so. My cockatiel was a baby when she came home but she was similarly terrified of everything and only sat there by her food for a couple weeks. She slowly started to move more and play with things but it even took three months for her to start using the perches and toys at the lower part of her cage.

 

[Flboy]

Ditto on all of the above, you are doing wonderfully!

 

[EllenD]

Wow, 4 days is not time at all to expect much from your new little guy...He's 15 years old and has probably had multiple homes/people/cages/toys etc., and right now he doesn't even know what's going on or happening to him...He seems like a very sweet bird, but you need to slow down and have a lot of patience...

This is a marathon, not a sprint, and you have to go at HIS pace, not your pace. It could literally takes months and months for him to not be scared of his new surroundings, toys, the cage and it's doors, perches, etc. And the best way to help him with this is to expose him to these things every day and just let him figure it out. So removing the toys, perches, etc. because he's not using them was exactly the wrong thing to do...But that's okay, you're learning too, and you're doing the best thing you can do, which is to ask questions, ask for help, and you're also obviously very concerned about him and care about him, so that's awesome as well.

I'd put all the toys, different perches, etc. right back in the cage ASAP, and continue doing what you're doing. Make sure he gets lots of attention and out-of-cage-time, and if right now he's comfortable just being with you and that's what is comforting him, then that's what you should do with him. As he settles-in and becomes more and more comfortable with you, with his new house, with his cage, new toys, perches, etc., he'll come around. Just try to remember that this is going to take a long, long time to happen, and you can't push him or force it, as again, he's had 15 years of no stability at all...

 

[mh434]

I highly recommend a mirror for him - our new rescue 'Tiel positively came alive when we gave him a mirror!

 

[itzjbean]

I highly recommend a mirror for him - our new rescue 'Tiel positively came alive when we gave him a mirror!

I thought my mirror would be good for my cockatiel too but he ended up having an unhealthy obsession with it and became aggressive towards me if I approached his mirror. The mirror gave him a false sense of reality and socialization and just was not good for him. I would not put a mirror in with your bird.

The problem with mirrors

 

[mh434]

Ours seems to enjoy having the mirror, in addition to the rest of his toys. He sings to the mirror, then goes and rings his bell or chews on rope toys, etc. He's certainly not obsessed with it. The addition of the mirror did, however, help to bring him out of his new-to-the-home "funk". After the mirror, he became talkative, whistling & singing to us often, and started to "step up" without trying to bite, etc., as though he'd suddenly gained confidence. He's also preening often & looks amazing compared to his pre-mirror days.

As they say, it seems to depend on the bird. Your mileage may vary...

 

[smbrds]

The second photo is just precious. Senior tiels melt my heart. I have one too. You're doing good. It is definitely too soon and it's been years for his situation to develop. Give him lots of time, patience and love! I would try to get him a small rope perch that can go inside his cage. As he's an older bird his feet will appreciate the soft texture and from gripping.

 

[Stormiii]

Wow, you're doing great! Four days . . . after four days, my birds wouldn't even step up to me, let alone be comfortable on my shoulder! Just remember, it's all about small steps for birds. He's gonna go at his own pace. Try introducing something new to him every week or so. A new toy. A new type of food. Give him a little of the new thing every day until he's comfortable around it. That's what I did for Einstein. And he is so beautiful!

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I agree with everyone! Four days is not long at all. He hasn't realized yet that he is in a MUCH better place now,thanks to you! He'll come around soon enough. Keep doing what you're doing and THANK YOU for taking the little guy in!



Jim

 

[ChristaNL]

I feel your frustration - my greys will just ignnore a new toy for months (so much for the advise to swap them out every few days) and all of a sudden...it's either okay/ their favorite toy *ever*/still hate it -- and maybe I am extra-extra daft (always a possibility ), but still ... after all those years I cannot predict how they will react/ take to it.

The macaw just has *no* clue what to do with toys either - after about 5 months watching the greys destroy cardboard and willowbranches etc. she decided to have a go at it, but still nibbles compared to the other ones....

So...even it you start playing with parrottoys (and enjoying it, semi-guarding it against her -> that always gets their interest going) it may take till X-mass or longer before your tiel has a go at it too. (Or next week... you never know - bird will always surprise you)

That second picure is one happy, fluffed up bird
Love it!

(so yea, your bird does not like to be alone... makes sense, but after some time chances are good the cage will be "safe&home" as well.)